Tropicals > Cleistocactus > Cleistocactus strausii > Cleistocactus strausii
Cleistocactus strausii
Silver Torch, Wooly Torch
Origin: Argentina and Bolivia.
| Family |
| Cactaceae |
| Genus |
| Cleistocactus |
| Species |
| strausii |
| Category |
| Tropicals |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 10b |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H2 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 1 - 5 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 15 |
| Height |
| 3 m |
| Spread |
| 6 - 8 cm |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Awards
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Erect columnar cacti. |
| Landscape |
| Patio and container plants. |
| Cultivation |
| Requires full sun in well drained soil but prefers plenty of water during the growing season. It can tolerate temperatures as low as -10°C in winter however it is intolerant of hot summer temperatures. |
| Shape |
| Cylindrical stems. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| Evenly branched stems covered in white spines. Tubular red flowers scattered along the stems. |
| Pests |
| Prone to root rot if overwatered during its dormant period. |
| Habitat |
| Found in higher elevations (3000 m) in the mountains of Argentina and Bolivia. |
| Flower Description |
| On older plants (above 50 cm in height) 6 cm long tubular, orange flowers are produced horizontally from the stems. Only the style and stamens protrude from the barely open flowers. Cultivated plants typically flower quite freely. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The University of Alberta Botanic Garden, Devon, Alberta, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| By seed or stem cuttings. |
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